Illegal camper ‘pushed over beach hut owner and spat in her face'
Carolane Davies, 59, and her husband Nathan Davies, 60, have owned a Bournemouth beach hut for five years, after spending seven years on a waiting list.
They a number of illegal campers have recently used the area surrounding their hut, for which they pay Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) £1,600 a year in ground rent.
Mrs Davies was left with a cut to her arm after an illegal camper spat in her face and pushed her down at 3pm on July 4.
The couple said they found the tent pitched next to their hut and moved it so it was not touching.
Mr Davies said: 'We moved the tent about eight inches off the side of our hut, so it wasn't pressed right against it. Then I decided to go and find one of the rangers to see if they'd do something about it.'
He continued: 'I walked about 150 yards away and realised my phone had no charge, so I turned back to get my power pack. As I turned, I saw a man who I assume had been staying in the tent ride up on a pushbike and jump off right in front of my wife.
'All she said was: 'You can't have your tent there.' He spat in her face, pushed her to the ground and started shouting abuse at her. It was shocking and completely unacceptable.'
Passers-by were forced to block the man from attacking Mrs Davies any further.
Mr Davies added: 'The police gave [the attacker] a dispersal order, but it's only for 24 hours so he could be back there now. Do we just go down there with trepidation of what could happen?'
He said his wife was now too afraid to visit the beach hut alone, and accused the council of not doing enough to help.
Mr Davies said: 'There are signs saying 'no camping', but they mean nothing because the council does nothing to enforce them. They put the onus on beach hut owners to get into confrontations with homeless people, which isn't right.
'I pointed out to police that there was another tent next to another hut and asked if they were going to do anything about that one and they said they can't because they haven't broken the law yet.
'So you have got to be assaulted before they will move someone on. It's absolutely despicable.'
Mr Davies claimed beach-goers often go behind the huts to urinate, which makes the area smell.
Dorset Police received a report at 3.09pm on Friday July 4 2025 of a man acting aggressively on Bournemouth beach.
A spokesman for the force said: 'The man was issued with a section 35 dispersal notice and he subsequently left the area. There were no further complaints made by other members of the public.
'Officers are continuing to carry out increased patrols in the area of Bournemouth beach and the pier.'
Cllr Kieron Wilson – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council's portfolio holder for housing and regulatory services – said: 'We are aware of a small number of tents on the beach and are working closely with members of our homelessness partnership, community safety officers, and the council's housing and communities' teams to provide support where necessary to these people.
'Separate to this, the council will address any negative behaviours, working closely with our partners to keep our seafront a safe, welcoming and clean place to visit.'
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